About Nels D. Leafblad, MD

Dr. Nels Leafblad is a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine and arthroscopic surgery, as well as knee, hip, and shoulder replacement. His special interests include hip arthroscopy as well as knee, hip, and shoulder joint preservation including management of complex ligament injuries, meniscus tears, rotator cuff injuries, cartilage injuries, and labral tears. He offers assessment and diagnostic care for a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions as well as activity-related sports injuries.

Dr. Leafblad is a Minnesota native and graduated summa cum laude from Bethel University, where he played baseball and started a band. He completed medical school at the University of Minnesota and his orthopedic surgery residency at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. He then completed a fellowship in sports medicine at the University of Utah, where he was an assistant team physician for the Utah Jazz (NBA), the University of Utah Utes Football (NCAA Div. I), and Real Salt Lake (MLS). He practices at Twin Cities Orthopedics clinics in Stillwater and Vadnais Heights. He performs surgery in Lake Elmo, Stillwater, and Woodbury.

Outside of work, Dr. Leafblad loves spending time with his wife and children. He enjoys everything the outdoors has to offer, particularly downhill skiing, fishing, hunting, golfing, and hiking. He is also a musician and went to Hollywood as a contestant on American Idol prior to his medical training. He has produced two albums of original music and continues to write music of his own. He has a passion for serving communities both locally and abroad. He has done both medical and faith-based missions in India, Ukraine, and Uganda, and plans to continue doing these in the future alongside his family.